ListenUP!

What is happening to the world? Literally.

It turns out that foreign affairs are much more complicated than you might imagine - even when they don’t involve an Italian lover. To find out more, Merchant banker Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen talk to SPECIAL GUEST journalist and foreign affairs correspondent Linda van Tilburg about why the 10 Downing Street cat Larry seems to have more chance of maintaining his domicile than other recent residents. And there is also the meeting between US president Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which seemed to elicit more photographs than policies. Also, AI.

The Prime Minister, the President, and the lettuce

With South Africa’s unemployment rate up again among many other problems, to what extent has local politics reached its nadir? To put it another way, is the political system capable of achieving the needs and requirements of the  population - both locally and in the world? Yes, says Investment banker Mark Barnes and SPECIAL GUEST Ann Bernstein, head of the Centre for Development and Enterprise. Journalist Tim Cohen is, as always, more sceptical. And dentistry!

The Prime Minister, the President, and the lettice

With South Africa’s unemployment rate up again among many other problems, to what extent has local politics reached its nadir? To put it another way, is the political system capable of achieving the needs and requirements of the  population - both locally and in the world? Yes, says Investment banker Mark Barnes and SPECIAL GUEST Ann Bernstein, head of the Centre for Development and Enterprise. Journalist Tim Cohen is, as always, more sceptical. And dentistry!

The Trappings of Debt. Literally.

What does it mean for you and your investments that global public sector debt has now breached the $100-trillion mark, and by the end of the decade government debt will probably reach 100% of global GDP. It's confusing. Debt is a facility, a promise, a tool, a shock absorber … and a trap door. Merchant banker Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen discussed this topic with Special Guest Rob Rose. Also running. Not us. Other people.

The tyranny of mediocrity

To unravel, as much as we can, a chaotic world at the moment, merchant banker Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen draw on the services of Special Guest Iraj Abedian, economist and thinker extraordinaire for this episode of ListenUP! The consequences of the widening war in the Middle East are hard to predict, but one thing is very clear: we are surrounded by the tyranny of mediocrity, locally and internationally. And in South Africa’s case, AI is clearly not helping much - although it might just be helping itself! Why, you ask? ListenUP!